A large scale illegal liquor production operation which was observed by aerial reconnaissance operations conducted by the SLAF and ground reconnaissance of SL Police STF SWAT Teams, was destroyed yesterday (28 August 2020) as a combined mission. This illegal operation was located within the Muthurajawela Forest Reserve.

The Presidential Task Force to build a Secure Nation, Disciplined, Virtuous and Lawful Society was enacted by His Excellency the President, Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa with the intension of curbing illegal activities such as distribution of drugs and also large scale production of illegal liquor. With these intensions in mind and the instructions of the Head of the Presidential Task Force to build a Secure Nation, Disciplined, Virtuous and Lawful Society, Major General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne, the SLAF together with the SL Police STF SWAT Teams and SL Navy SBS Teams located a large scale illegal liquor production operation.

As a result, SL Navy Special Boat Squadron Troops and Special Task Force Troops from the Sri Lanka Police launched a raid on the identified location which was within the Muthurajawela Forest Reserve. A Bell 212 Helicopter from the No 7 Squadron was utilized for this special operation by inserting STF Troops by air. The SL Navy SBS Troops infiltrated the location by boat using the waterways of the forest reserve.